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Department of Ecology News Release - January 4, 2010
10-001
SPOKANE - The public is being asked to review and comment on formal documents that will guide removal of black slag from a beach on the Upper Columbia River.
The slag, which has the appearance of black sand, is an industrial byproduct discharged into the Columbia River from a metals smelting facility operated by Teck Metals Ltd. (formerly Teck Cominco) in Trail, B.C.
The documents include a draft work plan that includes what’s called a “60 percent engineering design” that provides details of how the removal will take place. They also include State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) documents ensuring that the work is beneficial to the environment. Comments will be accepted Jan. 4 through Feb. 5, 2010.
A public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010, at the Northport High School, 408 10th St. in Northport. The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and Teck American Inc. (Teck) in Spokane will provide an overview of the project and answer questions from the public.
Ecology and Teck signed a detailed “voluntary interim action” agreement last July to remove slag from a beach area on the Upper Columbia River known as Black Sand Beach. The beach is located on state trust land that is managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources. It encompasses approximately one acre three miles south of the Canadian border on the east side of the river north of Northport.
In the fall of 2010, approximately 5,000 cubic yards of granulated slag will be removed and transported for recycling to Teck’s Trail smelter facility. Teck has agreed to remove and recycle the slag to avoid continued erosion and movement of the material into the river.
“This is good news for the river and those who visit the beach in summer months,” said project manager Chuck Gruenenfelder with Ecology’s Toxics Cleanup Program. “By late this year they’ll be able to play, fish and swim at the reconstructed beach. We appreciate that Teck agreed to take this action under our supervision.”
Teck will place clean, natural fill material where contaminated sediments were removed. The new beach will contain a combination of sand, gravel, and a coarser cobble-sized material.
The industrial slag contains hazardous substances including zinc, lead, copper, arsenic, cadmium and other metals that cannot be removed from normal processing. Some of the metals harm the health of the river and aquatic life. The beach is a popular spot for swimming, fishing, camping and other recreational activities.
Construction is being scheduled in the fall when river levels are seasonally low. Access to the beach will be closed during construction. Work is estimated to take three to five weeks.
The full degree of risks to human health and the environment posed by past discharges by Teck's Trail facility into the Upper Columbia River and Lake Roosevelt are currently being investigated under a comprehensive multi-year study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Teck, in coordination with state, tribal and federal authorities.
The public can see the documents for the slag removal at the Department of Ecology’s office in Spokane at 4601 North Monroe St. by calling Kari Johnson at 509-329-3415, or on-line at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/blackSandBeach/blackSandBeach_hp.html . They also are available at the Northport Community Library, the Kettle Falls Public Library and the Colville Public Library.
Comments and technical Questions should go to Chuck Gruenenfelder, 509-329-3439; e-mail: chgr461@ecy.wa.gov .
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Media Contacts:
Jani Gilbert, Communications, 509-329-3495; cell, 509-990-9177; jani.gilbert@ecy.wa.gov
Cathy Cochrane, Communications, 509-329-3433; cell, 509-990-290-0685; cathy.cochrane@ecy.wa.gov
For more information: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/blackSandBeach/blackSandBeach_hp.html
ECOconnect blog: Meeting on Black Sand Beach slag removal coming up Jan. 14
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